Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1887-04-09
AN OLIVE GROVE.
How Olive Raising Has Be-
come a California Industry.
The Fruit of the Mediterranean Now One
of Americas Products

that the olive is one Of the oldest known
traits. The Mount Of Olives, near
Jerusalem, is famous in history. Long
before butter was known olive oil was
used il the preparation Of food. Large
quantities OF the oil and fruit have from
time to time been imported here from
the shores of the Mediterranean Sea,
whence most Of the product has been
obtained. The climate OF California. not
being unlike that Of the Mediterranean,
was considered suitable for the growth
Of the olive, and >an experiment was
made which has proved successful. The
tree itself is pretty and ornamental. In
sprin~ time it is covered with a pro
fusion of white flowers, and in winter
has an evergreen foliage. When ready
for the harvest it Is SO prolific that the
branches bend under the weight of the
fruit. Olive wood is also beautiful,
and was chosen as parts Of the orna-
mentation Of the spacious and magni-
fcent Solomon's temple The oil is.
considered by many as something
sacred. As such it is used in consecra
tions and coronations. The ancients
used the sprays Of olive leaves to crown
their great men, as it was believed to be
an emblem of purity and peace. 1t
was considered the highest honor to be
+ IL IL; T.. 6
war an olive branch borne in the hand
was token Of peace, and is even now
spoken Of as such.
The olive tree lives for long time
Some Of the trees on the Mount of Olives,
in Judea, are said to be fifteen feet in
diameter and over two thousand wears
old, while that in the Vatican at Rome
has a record Of over thousand years.
The olive is very hardy, and will endure
treatment which would kill other fruit
trees. II infected with insects the en-
tire head can be cut off and thrown
away, while the trunk will sprout
again with renewed vigor In Southern
California it has prospered beyond
4 expectation. Being sensitive to excess
i've heat or cold, its home is in the semi
tropical belt represented by the Pacific
slope of the United States. 1t prospers
best near the sea, but can be cultivated
a short distance inland. With ordinary
culture the olive in Europe will produce
oyer twenty gallons of oil per, acre, be-
sises allowing large quantity of the
fruit to be used for eating. Although
yet in its infancy in this country, ex-
pcrts have SAID that the oil produced in
California is equal to any which has
been imported.t Growers say the Cali.
fornian coast, Aom Point Conception tc
San Diego, is equal to that between
Geneva and Naples for the production
OF olives. The importations amount to {
large sum annually, and if the best olive
oil can, as it IS claimed, be produced here
and in sufficient quantities, that produc
WI form an addition to tho. wealth Of tbs
United States SO far as the curing o
the fruit is concerned, expcrief7ce is like
y to teach the proper treatment as j
has with the raisin crop. The cutting
of two trees planted in 1876 yielded wei
in 1Ss4-the ordinary time required 70
bearing being ten years. The crop 0
these two trees was then seventy fv
gallons Of fruit, which sold readily al
81 per gallon after being prepared 70
the table. When taken from the tree
; the grower realized seventy-fve cent
per gallon. The same trees were loadco
down with fruit this season, and in Febru
airy will produce a large crop that can b
readily sold at the place Of growth a
eighty-f five cents per gallon Til
trees are planted On hillside, abou
th.rty-fivo or forty feet apart, TO aHo'
: for expansion, a, they Will live and pro
: duce for centuries. Ahaacrc Of groun
, will ho.d about 20 trees. The smal
fruit IS used Tor oil, while tss large o
/ queen olive is picked for eating.
olive trees can be planted on rock
9 lands, where H. vine wouli taiI, az
the est 4 planting the former IS abou
Q one-thi-d Of the latter. The crops ar
e more easily @atharei than grapes, whll
the oulG, for preparing olive oil $ abot
one-;enth Of that necessary to produc
wine. The insect pest can be tough
-,t-rh e,ssa~ ar3 ~. = loss c0st than II